A cladistic analysis aimed at understanding the phylogenetic relationships of basal (Early to Mid Ordovician) planktic graptolites resulted in a well-resolved majority rule consensus tree that displays a series of major monophyletic groups. This tree was used to produce a classification system for the planktic Graptoloida, one of the major groups of the Graptolithina. Resolution within the individual taxonomic units is low, however, as only few species of the individual groups were included in the analysis. Tree statistics such as the retention index show that the proximal end characters used in the analysis are more reliable indicators of synapomorphy, whereas distal rhabdosome characters show significantly more homoplasy on the consensus tree. This result supports previous qualitative assessments suggesting that the initial part of the colony appears to have been relatively conservative during the evolution of the graptolites, whereas the distal features are more easily modified. Thus, the proximal end structure is especially relevant for revealing shared common ancestry through the presence of distinct homologies. Based on the structure of the consensus tree, we recognize a series of nested holophyletic clades, primarily total clades (names of which are identified by the prefix Pan-) and crown clades. The proposed names conserve the traditional names applied to common graptolite higher taxa as much as possible and yet precisely describe the branching history of the clade. The Graptoloida is the clade that descended from the first graptolithine to possess a nematophorous sicula and planktic habit and comprises a stem lineage of “anisograptids” (e.g., Rhabdinopora flabelliformis and Anisograptus matanensis), plus the crown clade Supercohort Eugraptoloida. The Eugraptoloida includes all the remaining graptoloids, which form the sister taxa, Cohort Pan-Reclinata nov. and Cohort Pan-Sinograpta. Many familiar genera formerly included among the Dichograptidea form a stem lineage to the crown clade Subcohort Reclinata nov. The Reclinata includes the sister clades, Superorder Pan-Tetragrapta nov. and Superorder Pan-Bireclinata nov. The Pan-Bireclinata comprises stem group bireclinatids (including Isograptus) and the crown clade Order Bireclinata nov., which in turn consists of the sister total clades Suborder Pan-Glossograpta nov. and Suborder Pan-Axonophora nov. The Pan-Axonophora are represented in this analysis only by stem lineage species (Arienigraptus gracilis to Exigraptus uniformis), but the group contains the roots of the diverse and well-known diplograptids and monograptids, which dominate subsequent Middle Ordovician to Early Devonian graptolite faunas. • Key words: graptolites, Ordovician, phylogenetic taxonomy, cladistics, evolution, Eugraptoloida, Reclinata, Bireclinata.

MALETZ, J., CARLUCCI, J. & MITCHELL, C.E. 2009. Graptoloid cladistics, taxonomy and phylogeny. Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 7–19 (6 figures, 2 tables). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received July 20, 2008; accepted in revised form November 10, 2008; published online December 10, 2008; issued March 31, 2009.

Jörg Maletz & Charles E. Mitchell, Department of Geology, The University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY, 14260-3050, U.S.A.; jorgm@buffalo.edu, cem@nsm.buffalo.edu • Jesse Carlucci, The University of Oklahoma, College of Earth and Energy, School of Geology and Geophysics, 100 East Boyd Street Suite 810, Norman, OK 73019, U.S.A.; Jesse.R.Carlucci-1@ou.edu

The ultrastructure of the dendroid genera Acanthograptus, Dendrograptus, Desmograptus, Ptilograptus and Dictyonena, the genus Mastigograptus, and the graptoloids Monograptus, Cyrtograptus, Neogothograptus, Paraplectograptus and Sokolovograptus is described. The cortical fibrils of most of the taxa bear a clockwise spiral ornament. There is a striking similarity between the cortical fabric of Dictyonema sp. and the extracellular plies of collagen recognized in extant metazoans. Cortical fibrils may be considered a collagen-like material and the matrix may be compared with a polysaccharide – protein complex. The matrix in Dictyonema and Ptilograptus is formed of regularly spaced interconnecting rods. However, the interconnecting rods are a feature external to the cortical fibrils, and therefore their spacing constitutes only an indirect evidence for the fibrils being formed of a collagen-like material. • Keywords: dendroid, graptoloid, Mastigograptus, ultrastructure, interconnecting rods, spiral fibrils, collagen.

BATES, D.E.B., KOZ£OWSKA, A., LOYDELL, D., URBANEK, A. & WADE, S. 2009. Ultrastructural observations on some dendroid and graptoloid graptolites and on Mastigograptus. Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 21–26 (2 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received July 20, 2008; accepted in revised form November 18, 2008; published online December 10, 2008; issued March 31, 2009.

Denis Bates, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3DB; deb@aber.ac.uk • Anna Koz³owska, Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Science, ul. Twarda 51/55, PL-00-818 Warszawa, Poland; akd@twarda.pan.pl • David Loydell, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth PO1 3QL, UK; david.loydell@port.ac.uk • Adam Urbanek, Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Science, ul. Twarda 51/55, PL-00-818 Warszawa, Poland • Stephen Wade, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3DB; scw@aber.ac.uk

Diplograptus pristis (Hisinger, 1837) is the type species of the genus Diplograptus and name bearer for Suborder Diplograptina. This species is primarily kown from the Dalarne region of Sweden, where it occurs in the P. linearis Zone. D. pristis exhibits a suite of features (particularly the shape of the proximal end, the configuration of proximal spines, and the gradient in thecal form) that is uniquely shared with a number of other late Katian and earliest Hirnantian species including Glyptograptus nicholsoni Toghill, 1970; Glyptograptus posterus Koren' & Tzai (in Apollonov et al. 1980); Orthograptus maximus Mu, 1945; and Orthograptus truncatus rarithecatus Ross & Berry, 1963. The phylogenetic affinities of the Diplograptus clade are equivocal, however. Two isolated, three-dimensionally preserved specimens of D. pristis from the Paasvere 309 core in Estonia reveal that the rhabdosome is aseptate and has a simple proximal structure comparable with a Pattern G astogeny. The pattern G astogeny, long, fully-sclerotized sicula, aseptate rhabdosome with free nema all point to its being a member of the derived orthograptids. On the other hand, the rapidly enclosed sicula and lack of antivirgellar spines together with the apertural spines on the first pair suggest archiclimacograptid affinity. Cladistic analysis supports orthograptid affinities. If these relations are correct, the Orthograptidae Mitchell, 1987, must be regarded as a junior synonym of the Diplograptidae Lapworth, 1873. • Key words: graptolite, phylogenetic systematics, biogeography, Ordovician, cladistics, Sweden, China, Scotland, Siberia, North America, Estonia.

MITCHELL, C., MALETZ, J. & GOLDMAN, D. 2009. What is Diplograptus? Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 27–34 (3 figures, 1 table). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received July 20, 2008; accepted in revised form November 12, 2008; published online January 6, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

Charles E. Mitchell & Jörg Maletz, Department of Geology, The University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY, 14260-3050; cem@buffalo.edu, jorgm@buffalo.edu • Daniel Goldman, Department of Geology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469; Dan.Goldman@notes.udayton.edu

A rich mid-Ordovician graptolite fauna is reported from the Shihtien Formation at Baoshan and Shidian in West Yunnan Province, SW China. The fauna comprises Didymograptus artus, D. murchisoni, D. spinulosus, Pterograptus sp., Hustedograptus vikarbyensis, H. teretiusculus, Archiclimacograptus angulatus, A. riddellensis, Haddingograptus oliveri, Proclimacograptus angustatus, and dendroids such as Dictyonema, Ptilograptus, Dendrograptus, Callograptus, indicating an age of mid- to late Darriwilian. Based on the fauna, two graptolite assemblages are recognized, in ascending order, the Didymograptus artus and Didymograptus murchisoni biozones. The graptolite fauna shows a considerable similarity to those contemporary in Baltica and the Yangtze Region of South China. • Key words: graptolites, biostratigraphy, Darriwilian, Ordovician, West Yunnan, China.

ZHANG, Y.D., FAN, J.X. & LIU, X. 2009. Graptolite biostratigraphy of the Shihtien Formation (Darriwilian) in West Yunnan, China. Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 35–40 (3 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received July 20, 2008; accepted in revised form October 16, 2008, 2009; published online November 14, 2008; issued March 31, 2009.

Zhang Yuandong (correspoding author), Fan Junxuan & Liu Xiao, State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, China; ydzhang@nigpas.ac.cn (corresponding e-mail), fanjunxuan@yahoo.com

In the SE of the Armorican Massif (France), the Ordovician-Silurian transition and the lower part of the Silurian are exposed at the locality Les Fresnaies at Chalonnes-sur-Loire. The Silurian graptolitic “phtanites” (black cherts) are richly fossiliferous. Detailed sampling allows a description of the graptolite faunas and a precise stratigraphical analysis of the succession that comprises the whole of the Rhuddanian and Aeronian stages. Both the Llandovery graptolite assemblages and the lithologies of Les Fresnaies are similar to those of other lower Silurian successions throughout peri-Gondwanan Europe, like Portugal, Spain, Sardinia, Bohemia, Germany and Carnic Alps, and in the Middle East (Jordan and Saudi Arabia). • Key words: Silurian, Armorican Massif, France, graptolites, biostratigraphy.

PIÇARRA, J., ROBARDET, M., OLIVEIRA, J., PARIS, F. & LARDEUX, H. 2009. Graptolite faunas of the Llandovery “phtanites” at Les Fresnaies (Chalonnes-sur-Loire, southeastern Armorican Massif): Palaeontology and biostratigraphy. Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 41–50 (5 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received July 20, 2008; accepted in revised form November 19, 2008; published online January 6, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

José Manuel Piçarra, Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, Dep. de Geologia, Ap. 104, 7801-902 Beja, Portugal; jose.picarra@ineti.pt. • Michel Robardet, 3 rue Anatole Le Braz F35830 Betton, France; michel.andree.robardet@orange.fr • José Tomás Oliveira, Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, Dep. de Geologia, Ap. 7586, 2720 Alfragide, Portugal; tomas.oliveira@ineti.pt. • Florentin Paris, Géosciences-Rennes, UMR 6118 du CNRS, Université de Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes, France; florentin.paris@univ-rennes1.fr • Hubert Lardeux, Le Verger Beaucé F35520 Mélesse, France; hubert.lardeux@wanadoo.fr

Most of the graptolite biozones, previously recognized in the Llandovery succession of the classical Barrandian area of central Bohemia, are here identified in the heavily tectonized and poorly exposed, epizonal and contact metamorphic black slates and silicites of the Mrákotín Formation of the Hlinsko Zone. Graptolite material was collected by bulk sampling of loose boulders. The lower Llandovery (Rhuddanian) Cystograptus vesiculosus and Coronograptus cyphus biozones, Demirastrites triangulatus, D. pectinatus, “Monograptus” simulans, Pribylograptus leptotheca, Lituigraptus convolutus and Stimulograptus sedgwickii biozones of middle Llandovery (Aeronian) age and Rastrites linnaei, Spirograptus turriculatus, Streptograptus crispus and Monoclimacis griestoniensis biozones of late Llandovery (Telychian) age were identified in those loose boulders. The upper Telychian Torquigraptus tullbergi and Oktavites spiralis biozones were found in outcrop. The sedimentary succession of the Mrákotín Formation has been reconstructed, in particular by detailed correlation with the biostratigraphically well dated, graptolite-rich successions in the Barrandian area, Thuringia and elsewhere. 112 graptolite species are recorded; selected graptolites are figured and briefly discussed; Pseudorthograptus finneyi sp. nov. is described. There is little difference between the graptolite faunas of the Hlinsko Zone and the Barrandian area, but the lithological successions of the two areas differ. In the Hlinsko Zone the entire Llandovery is developed as anoxic black slates, siliceous slates and silicites. The black siliceous slates and silicites exhibit light coloured, quartz/chalcedony nodules such as characterize the basinal Silurian black shales and silicites in Thuringia and Sardinia. Barren greenish mudstone beds, which intercalate with the black graptolitic shales of the upper Llandovery Litohlavy Formation in the Barrandian area, are missing in the Hlinsko Zone. We assume that the Mrákotín Formation of the Hlinsko Zone was deposited near the depositional site of the coeval formations of Saxo-Thuringia and West Sudetes, rather than near the Barrandian area. • Key words: graptolites, stratigraphy, Llandovery, Hlinsko Zone, Bohemian Massif.

ŠTORCH, P. & KRAFT, P. 2009. Graptolite assemblages and stratigraphy of the lower Silurian Mrákotín Formation, Hlinsko Zone, NE interior of the Bohemian Massif (Czech Republic). Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 51–74 (13 figures, 2 tables). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received January 5, 2008; accepted in revised form April 30, 2008; published online December 3, 2008; issued March 31, 2009.

Petr Štorch, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Geology, Rozvojová 135, 165 02 Praha 6, Czech Republic; storch@gli.cas.cz • Petr Kraft, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Albertov 6, 128 43 Praha 2, Czech Republic; kraft@natur.cuni.cz

Development of new stratigraphic techniques has led to better understanding of the compositional variability and quantity of dust-related impurity components in pure marine limestones, with a considerable impact on stratigraphic resolution and explanation of causality. The early Middle Frasnian (E-MF, punctata Zone) stratigraphic interval was selected for this study in order to assess the contribution of atmospheric dust and to distinguish between the robust climatically driven anomalies and the potential distant effect of the Alamo impact. The location of the study in the Moravian Karst area has two advantages: there are no mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sediments, only the pure limestone of a platform reef complex, and the authors have access to voluminous survey and drilling reports. The methodology employed for undertaking the most recent research was based on succession and combination of the following steps: biostratigraphy and facies analysis, magnetic susceptibility (MS), gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS), instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), and finally, separation and assessment of rare non-carbonate particles. The natural atmospheric dust burden, deposition, and embedding in pure carbonate traps were, most likely, threefold higher during the Frasnian in the Upper Devonian in comparison with Quaternary platform reef counterparts. Variation of 10-100 ka averages is medium in terms of the Frasnian ranges of MS-GRS values, and the base and top of the E-MF interval are manifested by robust elevations of these values. Forced anomalies in MS, GRS and geochemical signals that defy the normal sequence of rhythms were found: two anomalies disturb the broad middle part of the E-MF interval and one is superimposed on the upper part of the punctata-hassi zones strata. The most significant disturbance was found near the mid-punctata Zone level. In spite of the relatively low magnitude, it shows features that are usually related to major environmental crises which occured in the Devonian, such as the Choteè, Kaèák or Kellwasser events. These include a large depression in MS and dust-particle concentration values coupled with a period of sea level lowstand and calm atmospheric conditions (stage A), and an abrupt shift to high MS that has a comb-like pattern that gradually fades upward, developed together with a forced flooding surface, increased detritism, and stormy conditions (stage B). It is a reverse of the normal cyclicity in pure limestone when the high impurity corresponds to lowstands. A very small amount of particulate material of an exotic nature was found at the A-B stage interface and assessed: it contained iron-rich silicate microspherules and drops, devitrified glasses, tiny mineral/rock clasts of hyperbasite compositions, as well as pellets and clumps of glasses and phlogopites. The silt-sized particles show ablated and striated surfaces, flow deformation of devitrified glasses, and layered onion-like structures. Iron-rich lamellae with meshwork crystal patterns occur among decrepitated crystalline mineral phases. This material is tentatively attributed to some vigorous ejection of deep Earth layers, or speculatively, to some previously undescribed olivine-phyric to basaltic and Ni-, Cr-depleted siderolite material of meteoritic origin. • Key words: mineral dust, platform reef, sedimentation of particulates, sedimentary rhythms, stromatactis, climate conditions, magnetic susceptibility, gamma-ray spectrometry, geochemistry, mid-punctata Zone perturbations, Alamo impact event, Upper Devonian, Brunovistulian terrane, Moravia, Czech Republic.

HLADIL, J., KOPTÍKOVÁ, L., GALLE, A., SEDLÁÈEK, V., PRUNER, P., SCHNABL, P., LANGROVÁ, A., BÁBEK, O., FRÁNA, J., HLADÍKOVÁ, J., OTAVA, J. & GERŠL, M. 2009. Early Middle Frasnian platform reef strata in the Moravian Karst interpreted as recording the atmospheric dust changes: the key to understanding perturbations in the punctata conodont zone. Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 75–106 (9 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received November 24, 2008; accepted in revised form January 20, 2009; published online February 9, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

Jindøich Hladil (corresponding author), Institute of Geology AS CR, v.v.i., Rozvojová 269, CZ-165 00 Praha; hladil@gli.cas.cz . For the other authors' addresses see the Appendix.

A systematic study of Silurian and Devonian platyceratid gastropods provides new data on their early shell ontogeny. Typical cyrtoneritimorph protoconchs were found in Praenatica cheloti (Oehlert & Oehlert, 1887) from the Lower Devonian strata of Brittany (W France). The same protoconch type, as in Praenatica Barrande in Perner, 1903, was earlier documented in Orthonychia Hall, 1843. Both of the latter taxa have often been considered to be subgenera of Platyceras Conrad, 1840. However, Silurian and Devonian species of Platyceras from the Barrandian area develop quite different protoconchs (orthostrophic and tightly coiled), similar to those found earlier in different species of the family Naticopsidae Waagen, 1880. Current data suggests that Paleozoic platyceratids represent a diphyletic group. The nature of their protoconchs (development of a true larval shell) testifies against the hypothesis that the Paleozoic platyceratids are the stem group for the Patellogastropoda. However, the derivation of modern neritimorphs from Paleozoic “platyceratids” with tightly coiled protoconchs or from the naticopsids seems to be probable. The strongly convolute neritimorph protoconch (apomorphy of neritimorph crown-group) probably originated after the Permian/Triassic mass extinction event, but before the Late Triassic. • Key words: Gastropoda, phylogeny, Platyceratoidea, Neritimorpha, Patellogastropoda, Cyrtoneritimorpha, protoconch morphology.

FRÝDA, J., RACHEBOEUF, P.R., FRÝDOVÁ, B., FERROVÁ, L., MERGL, M. & BERKYOVÁ, S. 2009. Platyceratid gastropods – stem group of patellogastropods, neritimorphs or something else? Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 107–120 (5 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received Febuary 9, 2009; accepted in revised form February 23, 2009; published online March 10, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

Jiøí Frýda, Czech Geological Survey, P.O.B. 85, 118 21 Prague 1, and Faculty of Environmental Sciences, CULS, 165 21 Prague 6, Czech Republic; bellerophon@seznam.cz • Patrick R. Racheboeuf, UMR CNRS 6538, Domaines Océaniques, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, UFR des Sciences et Techniques, 6, avenue Le Gorgeu, C.S. 93837, F-29238 Brest Cedex 3, France; patrick.racheboeuf@univ-brest.fr • Barbora Frýdová, VÚRV v.v.i., Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 161 06 Prague - Ruzynì, Czech Republic • Lenka Ferrová & Stanislava Berkyová, Czech Geological Survey, P.O.B. 85, 118 21 Prague 1, Czech Republic • Michal Mergl, University of West Bohemia, Faculty of Education, Department of Biology, Klatovská 51, 306 19 Plzeò, Czech Republic; mmergl@kbi.zcu.cz

Two agnostids from Cambrian of the Barrandian area bear different types of skeletal malformations. The tiny pathological exoskeleton of Hypagnostus parvifrons (Linnarsson, 1869) has asymmetrically developed pygidial axis, while the posterior pygidial rim in the larger Phalagnostus prantli Šnajdr, 1957 has an irregular outline. • Key words: agnostids, Middle Cambrian, Jince Formation, Pøíbram-Jince Basin, Barrandian area, Czech Republic.

FATKA, O., SZABAD, M. & BUDIL, P. 2009. Malformed agnostids from the Middle Cambrian Jince Formation of the Pøíbram-Jince Basin, Czech Republic. Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 121–126 (2 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received November 11, 2008; accepted in revised form January 9, 2009; published online January 23, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

Oldøich Fatka, Department of Geology and Palaeontology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Praha 2, CZ -128 43, Czech Republic; fatka@natur.cuni.cz • Michal Szabad, Obráncù míru 75, 261 02 Pøíbram VII, Czech Republic • Petr Budil, Czech Geological Survey, Klárov 3, Praha 1, CZ -118 21, Czech Republic; petr.budil@geology.cz

Superfamily Rutoceratoidea Hyatt, 1884 (Pragian to Frasnian, Devonian) includes nautiloid cephalopods having exogastric cyrtoceracone or coiled shells with periodic walls or raised growth lines (megastriae) forming ridges, sometimes modified in various ways into collars, frills, or different outgrowths. High disparity and intraspecific variability of the shell form and sculpture of the rutoceratoids are conspicuous among Early Palaeozoic nautiloids. Consequently, rutoceratoids are divided according to different patterns of growth structures into three families. Parauloceratidae fam. nov. (Pragian to Emsian) contains taxa with cyrtoceracone shells and simple recurrent ribs with ventral sinus. Family Hercoceratidae Hyatt, 1884 (Pragian to Givetian) comprises forms with periodically raised ridges with three lobes forming ventrolateral outgrowths during shell growth such as wings, nodes or spines. Family Rutoceratidae Hyatt, 1884 (Pragian to Frasnian) encompases taxa having growth ridges with ventral lobe transforming into undulated frills or distinct periodic collars (megastriae). All of these families had already appeared during early radiation of rutoceratoids in the Pragian. The early radiation of rutoceratoids is, however, adequately recorded only from the Prague Basin. Rutoceratoids become widespread within faunas of Old World and Eastern American realms later during the Emsian and especially Middle Devonian. Three new genera are erected: Parauloceras gen. nov., Otomaroceras gen. nov. and Pseudorutoceras gen. nov. The Pragian Gyroceras annulatum Barrande, 1865 is assigned to the genus Aphyctoceras Zhuravleva, 1974. Rutoceratoids are thus represented by seven genera and eight species in the Pragian Stage of the Prague Basin. In addition, variability of shell coiling among rutoceratoids and its significance for their systematics are discussed. • Key words: Nautiloidea, Oncocerida, Rutoceratoidea, Pragian, new taxa, shell morphology.

MANDA, Š. & TUREK, V. 2009. Revision of the Pragian Rutoceratoidea Hyatt, 1884 (Nautiloidea, Oncocerida) from the Prague Basin. Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 127–148 (13 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received December 12, 2008; accepted in revised form February 13, 2009; published online March 10, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

Štìpán Manda, Czech Geological Survey, P.O.B. 85, Praha 011, 118 21, Czech Republic; stepan.manda@geology.cz • Vojtìch Turek, National Museum, Department of Palaeontology, Václavské námìstí 68, 115 79 Praha 1, Czech Republic; vojtech.turek@nm.cz

A new species of Voskopitoechia, V. chlupaci sp. nov. from the Pragian of the Cantabrian Mountains (N Spain) is described. The genus Voskopitoechia was already known by its type-species, V. orbona, from the Pragian of Bohemia. The occurrence of both Voskopitoechia species in northern Gondwana is related to a large faunal turnover in the aftermath of the Sulcatus Event, and also coincided with the onset of tropical conditions that allowed the occurrence of the first Devonian reef-building episodes in Gondwana. The palaeobiogeographical distribution of Voskopitoechia likewise supports the increasing closeness in Pragian times of peri-Gondwanan terranes as Northern Iberia and Perunica. • Key words: palaeobiogeography, Sulcatus Event, Pragian, Perunica, Cantabrian Mountains.

GARCÍA-ALCALDE, J.L. 2009. Voskopitoechia chlupaci sp. nov. a Cantabrian (N Spain) Pragian uncinulid brachiopod with Bohemian affinities. Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 149–154 (6 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received September 25, 2008; accepted in revised form January 6, 2009; published online February 25, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

Jenaro L. García-Alcalde, Department of Geology (Paleontology), University of Oviedo, c/ Jesús Arias de Velasco, s/n, 33005 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; jalcalde@geol.uniovi.es

The upper Silurian-Lower Devonian Monte Cocco II section, located in the eastern part of the Carnic Alps, yielded abundant conodonts from five conodont biozones (snajdri, crispa, eosteinhornensis s.l., detortus and woschmidti). The eosteinhornensis s.l. interval Zone is introduced here to replace the “Oz. remscheidensis i.Z.” of Corradini & Serpagli (1999). The Silurian/Devonian boundary is located in the upper part of the section; problems related to the accurate location of the Silurian/Devonian boundary on the basis of conodonts are discussed. A new taxon of the genus Pelekysgnathus is described, but left in open nomenclature. A few taxonomic notes on other selected taxa are also presented. • Key words: Silurian/Devonian boundary, conodonts, biostratigraphy, taxonomy, Carnic Alps.

CORRIGA, M.G. & CORRADINI, C. 2009. Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian conodonts from the Monte Cocco II Section (Carnic Alps, Italy). Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 155–168 (6 figures, 1 table). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received November 24, 2008; accepted in revised form March 10, 2009; published online March 23, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

Maria G. Corriga, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Cagliari, via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari; maria.corriga@unica.it • Carlo Corradini (corresponding author), Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Cagliari, via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari; corradin@unica.it

Detailed analysis of the ecologic position of Late Ordovician epibenthic bryozoans within fossil associations from the upper part of the Zahoøany Formation have revealed a statistically significant host preference. The most common hosts were found to be cephalopod shells and conulariid exoskeletons, less commonly disarticulated trilobite exoskeletons and brachiopod shells were utilized. Among the trilobite remains, the bryozoans prefered to settle on the central part of cephala in the medium-sized trilobites Dalmanitina socialis. However only one pygidium of more the 450 studied pygidia of the latter species was colonized by epibenthic bryozoans. No preferred area for attachment of bryozoans on brachiopod shells was found. The relation between fluctuating input of clastic material into the mostly siltstone sequence and the occurrence of the epibentic bryozoans is discussed. The changes in the faunal associations of the Zahoøany Formation are also documented. • Key words: host preferences, epibiontic bryozoans, Late Ordovician, taphonomy.

KÁCHA, P. & ŠARIÈ, R. 2009. Host preferences in Late Ordovician (Sandbian) epibenthic bryozoans: example from the Zahoøany Formation of Prague Basin. Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 169–178 (8 figures, 1 table). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received August 20, 2007; accepted in revised form February 4, 2009; published online March 23, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

Petr Kácha, The Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, V Holešovièkách 41, 182 09 Praha 8; kacha@irsm.cas.cz • Radko Šariè, Czech Geological Survey, Klárov 3, 118 21 Praha 1; saric@cgu.cz

The hyolith Jincelites vogeli new genus and new species is described from the “Middle” Cambrian Drumian Stage Jince Formation of the Pøíbram-Jince Basin in the Czech Republic. The new form is based on two hundred well-preserved external and internal moulds of conchs, opercula and helens. The general morphology of skeletal parts of J. vogeli corresponds to the filter feeding life strategy suggested for hyolithids by Marek et al. (1997). The character of the associated skeletal fauna and general lithology, as well as the restricted stratigraphical range and geographic distribution suggest that J. vogeli lived on muddy substrates in relatively shallow water settings. • Key words: hyoliths, “Middle” Cambrian (Cambrian Series 3), Drumian, Pøíbram-Jince Basin, Teplá-Barrandian region, Czech Republic.

VALENT, M., FATKA, O., MICKA, V. & SZABAD, M. 2009. Jincelites vogeli gen. et sp. nov. (Hyolitha) from the Cambrian of the Czech Republic (Pøíbram-Jince Basin, Teplá-Barrandian region). Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 179–184 (4 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received June 5, 2008; accepted in revised form January 5, 2009; published online March 23, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

Martin Valent, National Museum, Department of Palaeontology, Václavské námìstí 68, 115 79 Prague 1, Czech Republic; martin_valent@nm.cz • Oldøich Fatka, Charles University, Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic; fatka@natur.cuni.cz • Václav Micka, Šatrova 662, 142 00 Praha 4 - Kamýk, Czech Republic • Michal Szabad, Obráncù míru 75, 261 02 Pøíbram VII, Czech Republic

A new find of an isolated prosoma of the possible aglaspidid arthropod Zonozoe drabowiensis from the Øevnice Quartzite of the Libeò Formation is described. All previously described specimens from the Letná Formation were measured and compared to this specimen, which shows the so far unknown external surface of the exoskeleton and represents the first occurrence outside the Letná Formation. • Key words: Aglaspidida, prosoma, Upper Ordovician, Prague Basin.

RAK, Š., BERGSTRÖM, J., FATKA, O. & BUDIL, P. 2009. The Upper Ordovician arthropod Zonozoe drabowiensis Barrande (Libeò and Letná formations, Sandbian, Barrandian area, Czech Republic). Bulletin of Geosciences 84(1), 185–188 (2 figures). Czech Geological Survey, Prague. ISSN 1214-1119. Manuscript received January 11, 2008; accepted in revised form December 11, 2008; published online February 6, 2009; issued March 31, 2009.

Štìpán Rak, Charles University, Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Albertov 6, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic; deiphon@geologist.com • Jan Bergström, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden; jan.bergstrom@nrm.se • Oldøich Fatka, Charles University, Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Albertov 6, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic; fatka@natur.cuni.cz • Petr Budil, Czech Geological Survey, Klárov 3, 118 21 Prague 1; petr.budil@geology.cz